Is Bed Wetting Common?

Everyone is born wetting the bed. You see, as we age we gain greater control of our bladders. At ages 1 and 2, our bladders get bigger and we’re able to recognize when they’re full. At ages 3 and 4, we learn to voluntarily eliminate or restrict eliminating. And by age 5, our bladder has completely matured and, in this regard, we can function as would adults. Though 20% are still bed wettersat this age, the good news is that the older the child becomes, the easier it is to take preventative actions to stop night time wetting.

Bed Wetting and Medical Conditions

Sure, there are several reasons as to why children wet the bed, but only a small fraction of bed wetters have medical conditions–3% to be exact. However, this doesn’t mean that you should assume your child does not have medical issues. Take the cautious route and speak with their physician. There are a number of conditions that he or she may be struggling with. These issues can range from kidney infections or abnormalities in their urine or bladder to diabetes or bladder infections.

It’s a good idea to keep a diary and record things like the exact date of when the problem first started. Make a note of how things have either improved or declined since that time. Write down how often these events happen during the night. Record the types of protective undergarments you’ve used as well as how well they’ve worked for you. You should also make a note of whether the child is a heavy sleeper and if you feel that certain environmental influences may be having an effect on the child. Remember, the more information you can give the doctor, the more effective and holistic the treatment will be.

Nighttime Bed Wetting: The Do’s and Don’ts

If you have a child who wets the bed, then there are a few things you should be mindful of.

→Don’t stress yourself out. It’s easy to worry a lot in this case. However, just remember that most children do eventually overcome this problem.

→Don’t use the punishment method. Bed wetting is something that cannot be controlled. This means that punishments are not effective whatsoever.

→Don’t compare your child to other. No two children are the same. Every child grows at their own pace so comparing them is not healthy.

→Don’t limit their amount of fluids. If you want to ensure that they don’t drink too much, then only allow them to have water. Sugary drinks only make them drink more.

→Consult with your child’s physician to ensure that the bed wetting is not related to a medical conditions.

→Bed wetting can be very embarrassing so work to build your child’s self-esteem. Make sure that they understand that they are not alone. Let them know that with the proper protective tools, that can beat this problem. Plan your goals together and make a big deal of their successes while downplaying any setbacks.

The Most Common Treatments And Their Effectiveness

Luckily, there are several things you can do in order to put an end to bed wetting. While these remedies may be common, some are very effective, while others should be avoided altogether. Let’s discuss a few of them.

Fluid Restriction

Fluid restriction doesn’t work in most cases. In fact, this method can be quite dangerous because it’s possible that the child could become dehydrated. The safer method is to limit fluids to earlier in the day and reserve a cut off point.

Setting Alarms

Some parents set alarms for the child or wake them in the middle of the night so that they can get up to go to the bathroom. This often operates according to the parent’s own nightly bathroom schedule. This method also does very little to help the child. However there are bed wetting alarms that the child can wear to help them realize that their bladder is full and the relapse percentage is extremely low.

Punishments for bed wetting can be intimidating, however, because bed wetting is involuntary, these punishments are not effective. In fact, in some cases they do more harm than good. Children often experience a drop in self esteem and a rise in their anxiety. And the problem often persists.

Drug Therapy

There are drugs which can help to decrease the amount of urine production. For instance both DDAVP and Oxybutinin decrease urine production. Though these medicines may be effective at first, the bed wetting usually returns once the child has stopped taking them.

Helping YourChild Win The Battle

When a child has a problem with wetting the bed, it’s easy to assume that they have developmental issues. And what’s worse is that children often feels a lack of control. Their self-esteems takes a beating. However, you and your child can create a plan to stop the bed wetting. Start by giving them a preference of what type of products they’d like to use–even if it’s simply choosing the color of their alarms. Not only does this work towards a solution, but it also gives them a sense of control and choice.

The best thing about the bed wetting alarm is that after a couple of weeks, the child will begin to notice it without parents having to wake him up. They’ll begin to associate the sound with a full bladder. And after some time, the child will be able to go on his own.

And in the case of an accident, you can always show the child how to clean up after themselves. Get them to assist with changing their bedding. This is easy when you’ve already let the child know where all of the clean bedding is. Even if the child has problems waking up, you can purchase one that vibrates.

If you would like to put a stop to your child’s bed wetting, there are several things you should consider. Every case is different and requires a different solution. Speak with your child’s physician and if the problem is not medical, then consider purchasing a special alarm.

Bed Wetting Myths

Bed wetting is a common childhood issue, though there seems to be very few solutions. Let’s talk about why children wet the bed, how common it is, the medical conditions associated with it, the do’s and dont’s and the most effective treatment. But first, let’s address a few of the biggest myths about bed wetting.

It’s impossible to treat bed wetting if you don’t fully understand the problem. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation about bed wetting. First, many people assume that bed wetting is a result of the child being too lazy to get up during the night. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes nighttime wetting can be the result of a medical issue.

Some people assume that bed wetting happens when a child has too much liquid before bed. This could not be further from the truth. You see, no matter how much fluid is ingested, the bladder will always produce urine during the night.

There is a common belief that children wet the bed because their bladders are too small. Believe it or not, some adults still struggle with bed wetting, so the size of the bladder is not the problem. The problem is that the individuals lacks the ability to wake up before they eliminate during the night.

Some people assume that medication can stop children from wetting the bed. According to research, drug therapy is not nearly as effective as bed wetting alarms. While the alarm helps children to recognize when their bladders are full, when one stops taking the medication the bed wetting will resume.

There’s a common misconception that parents must wait for children to naturally grow out of bed wetting on their own. However, with advances made in technology, parents have several options available to them.

Finally, one of the main misconceptions is that children wet the bed when they are left in diapers for too long. This is another statement that could not be further from the truth. Diapers or disposable pants allow parents to take the time they need to find the proper treatment.

So Why Do Children Wet The Bed?

There are several factors that can contribute to this problem. For instance, it can happen as a result of heredity. Maybe someone in their family was notorious for wetting the bed and they happened to pass the gene on. There’s also a chance that the child produces more urine than other children which means that they would have an overflow at night time.

Another possibility is that the child’s bladder may be small; in this case, they are physically unable to hold a certain amount of urine during the night. Bed wetting may be a result of the child being aroused during the night and becoming completely disoriented when awake. There is also a chance that the child suffers from certain food sensitivities such as caffeine or citrus or he or she may be experiencing irregular bowl movements.

Regardless of the reason, a good bed wetting alarm can be the first step in correcting this issue and helping your child through a stressful time. We’re here to help. Just look through and study our article archives and reviews for a better understanding on getting the best of bed wetting.